Benjamin Zander

A leading interpreter of Mahler and Beethoven, Benjamin Zander is known for his charisma and unyielding energy — and for his brilliant pre-concert talks.

Why you should listen

Since 1979, Benjamin Zander has been the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. He is known around the world as both a guest conductor and a speaker on leadership -- and he's been known to do both in a single performance. He uses music to help people open their minds and create joyful harmonies that bring out the best in themselves and their colleagues.

His provocative ideas about leadership are rooted in a partnership with Rosamund Stone Zander, with whom he co-wrote The Art of Possibility.

What others say

“Arguably the most accessible communicator about classical music since Leonard Bernstein, Zander moves audiences with his unbridled passion and enthusiasm.” — Sue Fox, London Sunday Times

Benjamin Zander’s TED talk

TED blogger Matthew Trost stopped by TEDxBoston on Tuesday. Here, he shares his notes on the proceedings. Today’s automobile weighs 20 times its driver, MIT’s Ryan Chin said. It takes up valuable urban real estate. It’s designed to go 100 MPH, while its driver often needs only a quarter of that speed. The supply chain […]

For those keeping score, Aimee Mullins’ funny and astonishing TEDTalk this morning marks our 400th TEDTalk. I asked followers of the TEDtalks Twitter stream to name some sleeper hits from the archives — talks they didn’t think they would like but did. Here are a few replies — which may send you looking for your […]

We’ve transcribed Jose Antonio Abreu’s TED Prize wish to use music to transform kids’ lives and posted the full text below the fold. Here’s a snippet: The idea is that the families join with pride and joy in the activities of the orchestras and the choirs their children belong to. The huge spiritual world that […]